First time cruise on Disney Dream Boat...register for camp?

[btannenbaum]

I am trying to pre register my 9 and 12 year old for the kids camp. I was told because of their age I do not have to pre register? I hear it gets booked fast. Is this true? Also what other advice for pre registering for dinners or activities? Thanks so much.

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

You can pre-register your kids for the Oceaneer's club/lab online, or you can wait until you are in the terminal or onboard. It is not like an excursion that "fills up" or "sells out". All eligible kids (3-12yo) on a cruise can participate in the club/lab.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I am trying to pre register my 9 and 12 year old for the kids camp. I was told because of their age I do not have to pre register? I hear it gets booked fast. Is this true? Also what other advice for pre registering for dinners or activities? Thanks so much.

You can pre-register your kids for the Oceaneers Club/Lab. That can be done during your online check-in, but it isn't something that gets booked up. You can wait to do it on embarkation day.

Things that you will want to consider booking prior to your cruise are port excursions, adult dining in Palo or Remy, spa appointments, Bibbibidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates League, and the Princess Gathering and Frozen meet and greets.

 

[squirk]

I think what you heard about "booking fast" may have been in reference to the nursery. Unlike the older kids' clubs, the nursery limits the number of hours you can use it per cruise, and it can fill up.

However, even if you pre-register, you still have to stand in line on embarkation day to sign releases and get the Magic Bands to track the kids and control their ability to leave the club. The lines to do this, either in the terminal or at the clubs on the ship, can get long. It seems (to me, at least) that the lines move quicker and aren't nearly as claustrophobic in the terminal vs. on the ship.

You don't have to register for dinner in the main dining rooms or Cabanas. However, if you want to eat in one of the specialty restaurants, you are best-served in doing so ASAP so you can get the reservation time you want.

Book the shore excursions you want ASAP as well, as some of those can fill up. Check your Navigator as soon as you can and scan it for events that require ticketing - Anna & Elsa, Princess Gathering, Character Breakfast, etc. The Navogator should tell you where to go to get those tickets.

 

[Sytrace]

You can book the ticketed events online ahead of time. Like the Disney Jr. Characater breakfast, Princess meet and greets and Anna and Else meet and greets.

Go to the ONBOARD FUN tab and check out the days and times available. It is one less thing to do when you get onboard.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

I am trying to pre register my 9 and 12 year old for the kids camp. I was told because of their age I do not have to pre register? I hear it gets booked fast. Is this true? Also what other advice for pre registering for dinners or activities? Thanks so much.

Or are you talking about the camp out that they offer during longer cruises (11-14 nights)? Where the kids can spend the night in the kids' club? Since you are on the Dream, my guess is no.

If you are talking about the Oceaneer's Lab/Club, you don't have to "book" it. You preregister online and then get the kids bracelets when you board (either in the terminal or at the club once on ship).

 

[PurplePencil]

Or are you talking about the camp out that they offer during longer cruises (11-14 nights)? Where the kids can spend the night in the kids' club? Since you are on the Dream, my guess is no.

What is this camp out your speaking of? I've never heard of that before.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What is this camp out your speaking of? I've never heard of that before.

On the longer (over 7 nights) cruises (usually with fewer children) they have, in the past, set up an overnight "camp out" for the kid's in the kid's club. Giving the parents a night off.

That's something that you sign up for once onboard, if your cruise has it.

 

[bbel]

What is this camp out your speaking of? I've never heard of that before.

'Coast to Coast camp out' happens on the crossings (Panama and transatlantic). It's an evening of activities and then a sleepover in the club.

 

[lanejudy]

As others have noted, you can pre-register for the Oceaneers Club/Lab online -- but probably only for the 9-yr-old. Your 12-yr-old will have the option of attending the Club/Lab (ages 3-12) or Edge (ages 11-14), and therefore will have self-check-out privileges. You can also allow the younger one to check herself out, but you'll have to designate that; it's automatic for 11 and 12 yr olds. DCL will only allow enough kids of any given age group to be booked on a cruise that DCL is able to handle. In the very unlikely event that nearly every child decides to enter the Club/Lab at the same exact time, you may have to wait for someone to leave; but I've only heard of that occuring a few times.

As for dinners -- your party will be automatically assigned to a dinner rotation for the 3 main dining rooms (MDRs). You may have been given the option to select main or late seating when you booked; you can go online (or have your TA check) if you didn't do so when booking. You can call to be waitlisted if main dining is full. Optional adult dining (Palo and/or Remy) can be booked online at the 75-day mark when you do online check-in.

Other activities can also be booked at that same 75-day mark -- port excursions, spa services, a couple of character meet & greets, etc. Anything else can be booked once you are onboard.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

As others have noted, you can pre-register for the Oceaneers Club/Lab online -- but probably only for the 9-yr-old. Your 12-yr-old will have the option of attending the Club/Lab (ages 3-12) or Edge (ages 11-14), and therefore will have self-check-out privileges. You can also allow the younger one to check herself out, but you'll have to designate that; it's automatic for 11 and 12 yr olds.

I was able to pre-register my DD for the Oceaneers Club/Lab on our last 3 cruises when she was 11 and 12. And I discovered it was not automatic for her to be granted self-check-out privileges. I was not asked whether we wanted that or not on our cruise this past March, and I assumed it was automatic given that she was 12 and we'd gotten her the sticker for the Edge. Well, the first night I get a text from DD, "You didn't give me self-check out! Come get me!" So I rushed down to the Oceaneers Lab and got it straightened out. When we cruised again in August, I made sure to tell the CM in the terminal that we wanted her to have self-check out.

 

[bbel]

I was able to pre-register my DD for the Oceaneers Club/Lab on our last 3 cruises when she was 11 and 12. And I discovered it was not automatic for her to be granted self-check-out privileges. I was not asked whether we wanted that or not on our cruise this past March, and I assumed it was automatic given that she was 12 and we'd gotten her the sticker for the Edge. Well, the first night I get a text from DD, "You didn't give me self-check out! Come get me!" So I rushed down to the Oceaneers Lab and got it straightened out. When we cruised again in August, I made sure to tell the CM in the terminal that we wanted her to have self-check out.

Yup, no self-check is automatic - even if you have pre-registered online. Any child between the ages of 8 and 12 have to have this authorised by the registering adult regardless of being registered for edge or not! We try and remember to ask any family registering children 8+ if they want them to be a self check out, but sometimes its crazy busy and we forget - sorry!

However - EVERY child (with an o.band) can check themselves IN! (if a little one finds themselves at the club/lab, we're not gonna turn them away to find their grown ups on a busy ship!)

 

[Bear3412]

When the lines are long for Club/Lab when aboard;

Also for those registering kids aboard on the Dream and Fantasy, there are two entrances to the Cub/Lab.
Approach from the aft, so using the aft entrance to Club/Lab, much sorter line.
This also applies during sailing for checkin/out during peak times.
It seems most parents walk aft from atrium to access Club/Lab creating lines at times.

And for those doing homework you can access the hallway infront of the Lab on deck 5 from the aft port side pax halls/elevators regardless of what all the deckplans indicate. The halls do connect.

HTH